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File Number: 25-285 ·Each district shall contain, as nearly as possible, equal numbers of residents. ·District boundaries shall approximate election precinct boundaries established by the Alameda County Board of Supervisors. C.Sequencing of Elections. Section 10010(b) of the Elections Code is the only provision under the CVRA that addresses principles applicable to elections sequencing: (b) In determining the final sequence of the district elections conducted in a political subdivision in which members of the governing body will be elected at different times to provide for staggered terms of office, the governing body shall give special consideration to the purposes of the California Voting Rights Act of 2001, and it shall take into account the preferences expressed by members of the districts. However, Article XI, section 5(b), of the California Constitution gives charter cities plenary authority over its electoral system and “the manner in which, the method by which, the times at which, and the terms for which the several municipal officers and employees whose compensation is paid by the city shall be elected or appointed, and for their removal, and for their compensation, and for the number of deputies, clerks and other employees that each shall have…” Section 235(b) establishes the City’s sequence of elections: “the officers elected in 2002 shall hold office for a term ending December 31, 2006 and officers elected in 2004 shall hold office for a term ending December 31, 2008.” Councilmembers are elected to four-year positions commencing on January 1 following the election. (Id.) At the third and fourth public hearings respectively held on May 19 and June 2, 2025, the City Council solicited public input to consider a range of options for determining the sequence of by-district elections. After the discussion, the City Council determined that the City’s existing election sequence would remain in place, with Districts 1, 3, and 5, as shown on the map attached as Attachment C, be slated for elections in November 2026. The remaining districts, Districts 2, 4, and 6, slated for election in 2028. Throughout the by-district transition process, the public has been encouraged to provide input on the contours of the election sequence. The City Council’s decision was informed by the public’s input. The City Council, however, has and retains discretion to weigh all factors in determining the most appropriate sequencing approach for the City. D.Next Steps It is recommended that the City Council hold the final hearing and, following the close of the hearing, consider the adoption of the proposed ordinance to establish district-based election of councilmembers and adopt a map describing the boundaries of each and every election district. FINANCIAL IMPACTS If the City follows the prescribed process under the CVRA and the FAIR MAPS Act, its financial liability to the claimant’s attorneys will remain capped at approximately $30,000 (as adjusted annually to the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers, United States city average, as published by the United States Department of Labor). In contrast, failing to act could expose the City to substantially higher litigation costs. Litigating a Page 4 City of San Leandro Printed on 9/4/2025